Other Whales
Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus):
- longest migration of any mammal in the world.
- they migrate from the Baja/Mexico to Alaska in the spring & return to the Baja in the winter.
- some are resident in local waters in the Pacific Northwest
- a healthy population in the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean population is extinct.
- in 1994 they were removed from the US Endangered Species List with a population of over 20,000 Benthic feeders, they feed on the bottom of the ocean floor.
- slow moving animals, rather like grazing cattle.
- do not have a dorsal fin but rather a series of 6-12 "knuckles" along the dorsal ridge adults may weigh up to 35 tonnes
- adults reach a maximum length of 40 ft (14 m)
- newborn calves are about 15 ft (5 m) long
Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae):
- has a small curved dorsal fin on a prominent hump on its back
- name means "giant wings", refers to their large front flippers that reach a length of 4m (15ft) one-third of it's entire body length.
- dark grey to black (top side), with a much lighter mottled black and white on the (under) side. This color pattern extends to the fluke.
- adult males measure 12-14m (48ft),
- adult females measure 13-15m (50ft).
- they weigh 22,680-36,287 kg (79,831lbs).
- they are known for their 'fluking' or 'sounding', showing of their tails
- found in all of the world's oceans, although they generally prefer near shore and near-island habitats for both feeding and breeding.
- feed on krill, small shrimp-like crustaceans, and various kinds of small fish.
- each whale eats up to 1361kg (2994lbs) of food a day.
- they mate during their winter migration to warmer waters off the Hawaiian Islands
Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata):
- pronounced "minky"
- distribution is global
- have the nickname 'stinky minky', known for their "bad breath" - you can sometimes smell them before you see them
- throat is pleated to allow it to expand when feeding (50-70 ventral grooves)
- feed on bait balls, large quantities of small schooling fish, most commonly herring
- sometimes lunge feed at the surface
- cooperatively feed with seals, birds, and other aquatic animals this is the whale that is being hunted by Japan and Norway today (illegally)
- is the smallest baleen whale - maximum length of 30 ft (9.5 m)
- weigh up to 10 tonnes
- over 40 photo identified in local waters that appear to return each summer, and become resident,but generally are found alone
